This past year, calling the police for minor offenses seems to have become the new norm.
There was ‘Permit Patty‘ who threatened to call police on a young black girl selling water; the angry neighbors who called the cops on a teen who accidentally mowed the corner of their lawn; and the original Barbeque Becky, who called police on a black family BBQing in the park.
While most of these callers got publicly shamed for their actions, this may be the best case of “revenge” that I’ve seen yet.
Jaequan Faulkner, 13, is a budding entrepreneur from Minneapolis, making a living selling hot dogs.
For the past two years, Faulkner has been selling hot dogs, sausages, chips, and soda, from the front yard of his house. His business is called “Mr. Faulkner’s Old-Fashioned Hot Dogs”, and the young boy has become quite a hit in the community. This summer, Faulkner once again decided he would be running the hot dog stand, hoping to save money for some new clothes.
Everything was going smoothly until a neighbor decided to phone in a complaint to the Minneapolis Health Department.
Now, the Health Department easily could have shut the young boy down— much to the delight of his pesky neighbor. Instead, however, they did one better and helped him get the sweetest revenge.
Instead of shutting the teen’s hot dog stand down, the Minneapolis Health Department worked with Faulkner to help him get a permit.
In an interview with KCPQ-13 (obtained by PEOPLE), Dan Huff, Minneapolis environmental health director, said:
“When I realized what it was, I said, ‘No, we’re not going to just go and shut him down like an unlicensed vendor.'”
“Let’s make this a positive thing and help him become a business owner.”
Staff from @MplsHealthDept, Minneapolis Promise Zone and @NEONBusiness helped bring Jaequan’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs up to code and officially permitted by the City. pic.twitter.com/gyYWhsHXwB
— City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) July 16, 2018
They showed Faulkner how to test the temperature of his hot dogs and provided him with a handwashing station and thermometer. When it was time for the permit to be issued, the staff at the department even helped cover the cost.
In an interview with Global News, Faulkner said:
“Surprisingly, I’m like, dang, the city’s not the bad guys in this situation.”
“They’re actually the ones who are helping me.”
On top of the help Faulkner got from the health department, the Minneapolis Police Department also showed him their support.
After getting his permit, the police department invited him to sell hot dogs at the precinct. Then, this past Thursday, they presented him with a special gift— a bonafide hot dog stand to replace the table he’d been using. They also stocked him up with condiments and supplies, all purchased with their own money.
Yesterday the MPD Bike Cops for Kids, CET and CSO delivered a brand new hot dog stand to 13-year-old Jaequan Faulkner! Jaequan’s stand at 1510 Penn Ave N was permitted by the City last Wednesday. You can find him selling hot dogs at the 4th Precinct from July 30th – August 4th. pic.twitter.com/lkhWEoq4uX
— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) July 27, 2018
Officer Mike Kirchen said: “It’s just wonderful seeing this young man thriving the way he is, starting his own business.” In response, Faulkner stated:
“I’m feeling excited knowing that I have people on my side that like what I’m doing and are going to support it.”
See the video below!
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